High Wind in California, November 24 to 25, 2001

INTERIOR CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
845 AM PST SAT NOV 24 2001

VERY STRONG AND FAST MOVING SYSTEM CONTINUES TO MOVE INTO CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA THIS MORNING. THE SPEED OF THE SYSTEM WILL LIKELY CAUSE
FORECAST TIMING PROBLEMS FOR TONIGHTS FORECAST...BUT WILL ADDRESS
TODAYS CONCERNS ONLY THIS MORNING.

1. PRECIPITATION...RADAR SHOWS MAIN AREA OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN
HAS REMAINED NORTH OF FRESNO AND A BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS IS
SWEEPING INTO WESTERN FRESNO AND KINGS COUNTIES. EXPECT THE RAIN TO
WORK ITS WAY SOUTHEAST LATER THIS MORNING. SIERRA IS GETTING A LOT
OF PRECIPITATION BUT SNOW LEVELS ARE AT THE ADVERTISED 8000 FEET OR
SO BASED ON RAWS SITES.  THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE
ZONES AND WILL HAVE TO CLOSELY WATCH FOR HIGH WINDS DUE TO THE SPEED
OF THE LINE AND THE VERY STRONG WINDS ALOFT AND FAVORABLE SHEAR
PROFILE. EXPECT THE RAIN TO MOVE INTO THE KERN MOUNTAINS AND
DESERTS THIS AFTERNOON. FORECAST AMOUNTS ON THE MODELS ARE STILL 1.5
TO 2.5 INCHES AT FRESNO AND THIS SEEM A LITTLE HIGH. AMOUNTS AT
BAKERSFIELD ARE NOT NEARLY AS IMPRESSIVE AT AROUND .50 INCHES.

2. WIND...SPEEDS HAVE BEEN MEETING CRITERIA NORTH OF FRESNO THIS
MORNING IN RESPONSE TO A VERY DEEP 989 MB LOW NORTH OF SAN
FRANCISCO AND AN ASSOCIATED 19 MB GRADIENT FROM UKIAH TO
BAKERSFIELD. EXPECT THE WINDS TO FINALLY GET CRANKING IN THE
BAKERSFIELD AREA AS MIXING OCCURS AND DOWNSLOPING ENHANCES. IN THE
KERN DESERTS...THINGS HAVENT GOT BLOWING TOO MUCH YET...BUT THEY
SHOULD PICK UP THIS AFTERNOON.

AS FOR THE MODELS AND TIMING OF THE SYSTEM...IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS
ARE REALLY MOVING FAST AS SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS THE MAIN FRONTAL
BAND ALREADY THROUGH THE BAY AREA AND HEADING SOUTHEAST IN A BIG
HURRY. COLD POOL BEHIND THE SYSTEM IS NOTED OFF THE COAST HEADING
SOUTH. MODELS ALL RAPIDLY END THE PRECIPITATION OVER THE AREA BY
EARLY THIS EVENING AND MAY NEED TO END WINTER WARNINGS EARLIER THAN
PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT. MUCH MORE TO FOLLOW THIS AFTERNOON.

.HNX...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FROM
       YOSEMITE PARK TO THE KERN COUNTY LINE TODAY THROUGH EARLY
       SUNDAY.
    ...WIND ADVISORY FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
       ...THE MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS AND THE
       TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS FOR TODAY.
    ...WIND ADVISORY FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND THE KERN
       COUNTY DESERTS FOR LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

DUDLEY